The Effect of Growth Conditions on Respiratory Activity and Growth Efficiency in Facultative Anaerobes Grown in Chemostat Culture

Abstract

SUMMARY: The effects of temperature, pH, dilution rate and oxygen tension on the yield coefficient and respiration rate of Klebsiella aerogenes and Escherichia coli grown in continuous culture were studied. Reduced cell yields and increased oxygen uptake rates were obtained at low oxygen tension (2 to 5 mmHg) without any increase in the concentration of extracellular organic carbon. These effects and changes in the respiration rate with changes in the dilution rate are discussed in relation to the ‘energy efficiency’ of the cells.